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[Section. 1] I MUST further signify, That the old Artists have also proved the Silvers through common flowing Water, and known in the Weight, whether they have been rich or poor with Gold, This their Invention, because it proceedeth from natural Reason, doth please me, and is an inductive Meditation to many other serviceable things: Now the Water-weighing with the Silver is done thus, Take a Ballance, and put in one of the Scales
the Goldish-silver, and in the other Scale so much Silver, (which containeth no Gold) as that they may be equal weight, then let down both Scales just together into a Vessel full of clean water, so you shall find and see clear∣ly that that Silver which is Goldish shall have in the wa∣ter greater weight, but not so much as the Silver which hath Gold with it. The Reason of this Difference, is because the Gold in a like greatness excelleth all other Me∣tals in weight, and is the heaviest Metal; Therefore such (as every one himself may judge) cannot swim so easily in the water, but must much sooner sink down on the ground, than they which are lighter: as the like is to be seen in the Lead, which goeth much before Tin and other Metals in the Water.
[Section. 2] But that I may give the Reader to understand, That 'tis possibly by such Water-weighing to reckon how much may properly be in the Silver, therefore know that such (in my thoughts) may be done and found out in this following manner.
First, Take fine grain'd Silver which is without Gold, lay to it good pure Gold, put it in one of the weigh-Scales, and in the other Scale lay fine grain'd silver also, so that it standeth just even: then sink both together in the water, and so much as the Silver goeth before with the Gold, so much you must supply with good Gold to the weigh-Scale in the vvater, then take the Ballance out of the water again, dry it well, and weigh it, and take so much from the Silver as the Gold hath drawn to it in the water, until the Ballance standeth even in Aequilibrio, then sink it in the Water again, and supply again the difference with good Gold, and then take off from the Silver; this do as long until both weigh-scales stand just (both within and out of the water) then you shall find that in one scale will lye so much Gold as in the other: and by this way (if you do
it carefully) you may also prove in weighing a goldish silver, whose content you did not know.
[Section. 3] Secondly, The water-weighing may also be done by Arithmetical Proportions, to which the Demonstrations will be serviceable, but they are not to every one known, namely thus, That if the Gold (as I have tryed it) weigheth against the silver in a like quantity 405 Marks, and 8 Loths, and the fine silver also the like quantity with the Gold two hundred twenty sev'n Marks, 4 Loths; this observe well, Then take the silver vvhich contains Gold, lay it in one of the weight-scales, and weigh it a∣gainst the Weights which are made of pure silver, that you may know the weight to be proper, then sink them together into the water: now, as much as it doth go for the Goldish silver, so much you must supply of with the silver weights, then make an account and observe the Proportions how the Gold and Silver stand together, as you have been instructed before, and I doubt not but you may come to a right proof by this Example.
First Way.
How the Gold is to be found by the Water-weighing.
Arithme∣tick.